‘Heat Dome’ Leaves Tri-State Area Sweltering

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — Get ready for a scorcher! What’s called a “heat dome” is headed for the Tri-State area, making Friday and the rest of the weekend not just uncomfortable, but dangerously hot.

The ominous sounding weather phenomenon is a bubble of high pressure that sits in the mid atmosphere and pushes warm air to the ground.

National Weather Service meteorologist Michael Mushier says it has plagued the Midwest and the oppressive weather is headed here. Forecasters say temperatures in the mid to upper 90s will combine with humidity to make it feel like it’s 105 degrees.

As a result, a heat advisory is in effect Friday until 7 p.m. Saturday for New York City and parts of New Jersey. Near Central Park, CBS2’s Lonnie Quinn was feeling temperatures up to 94 degrees, making it the hottest day of the year so far.

An excessive heat watch is also in effect in New Jersey for most of the state from Saturday morning through Monday afternoon.

Inside the CBS2 news van, the temperature climbed to 85 degrees even while the A/C was running. After turning the engine off and closing the door, the temperature kept rising to 120 degrees in just five minutes. After 10 minutes? The temperature rose to a staggering 138.5 degrees.

As WCBS 880’s Stephanie Colombini reported, a cool rush of air conditioning usually accompanies a walk through the door at Little Italy Pizza on 45th Street. But move a little closer to the ovens, and it’s scorching hot like outside – or even hotter.

Owner Carol Rappa said the pizza ovens clock in at temperatures as high a 650 degrees.

“You know when you feel it, when you slow down, when you slow down then you’re like, you kind of sense everything going on,” Rappa said.

Health officials say the very young and the very old should avoid spending too much time outdoors. Officials advise drinking plenty of water and stay in a cool location.

“Plan for the weekend is run early, hydrate and embrace it because remember February,” Upper West Side resident Debbie Snyder told WCBS 880’s Marla Diamond. “February is going to come and we are going to be waiting for the warm weather again.”

To help people beat the heat, New York City cooling centers are open Friday and Saturday at libraries, senior centers and other facilities throughout the five boroughs.

Residents can call 311 to find the nearest cooling center or click here.

Many will likely opt to stay home to keep cool and the U.S. Department of Energy is urging those in the area to consider energy saving tips:

Set your A/C to 78 degrees when home. Let it rise at night and when you’re not home. Your may save 5 to 15 percent on your bills.

Shade your A/C with trees or shrubs and increase its efficiency by up to 10 percent.

Use a ceiling fan with your A/C. Do it and you can raise your thermostat by 4 degrees and your comfort won’t change.